Ellicott City - Pittsburgh

February 6, 2025 Peace and Good, I have been quite busy at the Shrine and also with spiritual direction in these weeks. I have gotten a little time to write a bit and also to do some daily reflection podcasts, but not too much. The weather in Baltimore has been cold and we got a bit of snow. This led to a number of cancellations. This morning I drove out to Pittsburgh, and I was not sure how the roads would be since I was going through the mountains and there was ice and fog there. It turned out that there were no serious problems. I have been getting some nice ideas in my reading. Right now I am reading a book about Rumi, the Sufi Mystical Poet. I am not too good at poetry, but this book is a description of Rumi's ideas in the poetry. He speaks of love as being both the mystical energy and the core element of creation. I find I can only read a page or two of the book before I have to stop and reflect. I found a good saying the other day. Evelyn Maugh was an Englishman in the middle of the 20th century who converted to be a Catholic. He was famous for being a very difficult person. A lady said to him that she was surprised that with his temperament he would become a Catholic. His answer was that she could never know how much worse he would be if he didn't have his religion. I have finished some reading and listening: Years that Changed History: 1215 by Dorsey Armstrong This is a Great Courses presentation that I waatched in video format. It deals with a particular year (and its surrounding years). It speaks of what was going on in the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. It deals with diverse topics such as the Fourth Lateran Council, the invasion of the Mongols, the start of the mendicant orders in Europe, etc. Armstrong is a feminist and at times pushes that part of the agenda, but mostly in an informative way. Hannibal: the Military Genius who almost Conquered Rome by Even MacDonald This is a very good Modern Scholar presentation of the life and conquests of Hannibal from his earliest childhood to his death. The professor knows how to present cultural information into the text without getting lost in it. She presents the story of how this Carthaginian general almost defeated the forces of Rome (and why he, in the end, did not). I would recommend this work. Ancient West African Kingdoms by Frank Edison This is an overview of some of the great empires that existed in what is today the Saharra and the Sahel region of northwestern Africa (along with some information about Zimbabwe). This includes the Songhai empire, that of Benin, etc. The author speaks of the history at great length and it is easy to get lost in a long series of names and sites. Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians and His Martyrdom I am trying to read some of the letters and books of the Fathers of the Church. Polycarp is said to have been a disciple of the apostle John. He was the bishop of Smyrna (present day Izmir in Turkey). The first work in this book is Polycarp’s own letter to the Philippians. It is pretty much an exhortation to keep away from heretics (especially the Docetists) and to be faithful to a life of virtue. The second account is written by another author and it concerns Polycarp’s martyrdom. The translation that I read was a bit antiquated. Many of these works were translated into English at the end of the 19th century. Biowar by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice This is the fictional story of an outbreak of a new, humanly designed pathogen which has no known cure. A team of spies searches for its origin, its recipients, and a possible antidote. The account is a bit too full of 007 gadgets and unbelievable scenario. I don’t think I’ll be looking for any Stephen Coonts books in the future. Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Bob Brier This is a teaching company overview of some of the greatest pharaohs in Egypt from the time of Narmer (the founding pharaoh of the dynasty uniting upper and lower Egypt) to the reign of Cleopatra (who was really a member of a Greek dynasty). The professor is informative and entertaining. I would recommend this course. Freedom of Speech: Expression and the American Constitution by David Hudson This is a learn25 course that deals with all sorts of questions about the meaning of freedom of speech. What can one say openly, what actions are considered to be forms of speech and what actions are not, what forms of speech can be limited (threats, pornography, etc.). The professor cites court precedence extensively and he fully explains why judgments went in one direction or another. Assessing America’s National Security Threats by H.R. McMaster This is an Audible Original presentation (along with the Great Courses) on some of the dangers that face the United States today. He was a national security advisor under Trump for two years. He speaks of the nations (e.g. Russia, Iran, China) and the technology that place the nation at risk and the need to deal with these problems directly after a collegial discussion of the situation (no decisions made by individuals for political reasons). The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce Fleury This is part of the Great Courses series, and it is simply an introductory course on birds. It deals with their variety, their habits, their breeding, their dangers, etc. The professor has Parkinsons (something he admits in the opening lecture) and therefore his movement and facial expressions are severely limited, but it is clear that he has a childlike awe with the wonder of birds and he communicates that well. Anthony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy This is an audiobook by the same author who wrote Augustus. This one covers some of the same ground (when it deals with the career of Augustus). It is honest about the talents and shortcomings of Anthony (a good local leader, not a good overall general). It tries to draw a picture of Cleopatra that is not based on later literature and movies. She comes across as a survivor and a scrapper during most difficult times. As with all of Goldsworthy’s books, it is well worth reading. Van Gogh: 99 Watercolors by Narim Bender This is a short book which deals a bit with the story of Van Gogh and his training in painting, but especially his use of watercolor. This is the first time I have seen those productions, and I was moved at how beautiful they are. Medicus by Ruth Downie This is part of a series of books that speak of a Roman doctor with the Roman army in England during the days of the emperor Hadrian. He has a British slave named Tilla who is a good foil to him. He finds himself involved in investigations that have nothing to do with his job, but which he is well equipped to perform. I had read a couple of books in the series years ago but never read this first volume of the series. They are thoroughly enjoyable. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

January 26, 2025 Peace and Good, This has been a good couple of weeks helping out at the Shrine and the St. Joseph Nursing Home. I have been able to get caught up on my taping of daily reflections, and have begun a series of articles for one of our magazines in Kenya. This series is on the Pentateuch and I have written the first four articles. The way it looks, there will be at least another twenty articles in the series. The weather here has been cold, and we had a significant snow fall in these days. Yesterday I had a day workshop on the Book of Revelation. It had four hours of classes (9:30-11:30 and 1:30-3:30). We had a great turnout of people (about 45) and it was live cast. If you ever want to listen to it, you could find in on the Companions of St. Anthony web site, or just google fr. Jude Winkler - Book of Revelation. Tomorrow I have my Immunotherapy. It takes a couple of hours, and it is a liter infusion of a chemical that builds up the immune system of the body to fight whatever cancer cells that might still be in the body. I think I finish this therapy in March. It is really not all bad. I hope to continue working on my reflections and writing this week in between my service at the shrine. I finished some books (reading and listening): Augustus by Adrian Goldsworthy This is a monumental study of life and career of the first Roman emperor (although he always called himself the Princeps, which means the first among equals). He was an unlikely figure, especially physically for he often suffered fevers and other maladies that almost killed him. Yet, he proved to be a political genius. Unlike his adopted father, Julius Caesar, he never took the titles of leadership, but he always exercised their power, often in very obvious ways. Goldsworthy is a brilliant historian, and anything he wrote is well worth reading. Jerusalem: the Contested City by Frank Peters This is a history of the city of Jerusalem, considered to be hold by three major religions and contested almost from its very beginnings. Peters gives a good account of its earliest days, its conquest by the Jews, its destruction by the Babylonians, its reconstruction until the days of Jesus, its destruction by the Romans, its life in the Byzantine empire and then the Muslim conquest, the crusades, its conquest by the British in World War I, the settlement of Jews in the following years, the period after the war of independence and its conquest by Israel in 1967. It is incredible that one city would have had such a turbulent history, especially a city whose name contains the word “peace,” “shalom.” Marcus Crassus by Charles River Editors This is the story of the life and career of Marcus Crassus, one of the three men in the first triumvirate in Rome (he, Julius Caesar and Pompey). He is believed to be the richest man in Rome, and in comparative standards, possibly the richest man who ever lived. His life ended when he invaded Parthia (Persia) and was defeated. It is said that his killers poured liquid gold down his throat to let him taste what he sought all his life. Thomas Merton for our Time by Daniel Horan This is a series of Learn25 lectures on the teachings of Thomas Merton. They do not deal so much with his contemplative writings as much as his appeals to social justice. This is a topic with which Daniel Horan is a champion and he was an appropriate choice to speak of this dimension of Merton. The writings cited are from the 60’s, right around the time of the civil rights battle led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The presentations have made we want to study the topic further, which is a very good sign in a book. The Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 by Charles River Editors This episode occurred shortly after the Civil War when people were looking for a resolution to their problems. Two men found a field in the southwest that they salted with precious gems and then sought financing for their endeavor. They collected hundreds of thousands of dollars before their scheme was discovered. The men responsible largely escaped the consequences of their actions. Black Ghost of Empire by Kris Manjapra The premise of this book is that even the abolition of slavery was poorly done and was accomplished in a way that benefited the perpetrators much more than the victims. Whenever there was talk of money being given to someone, it was almost always given to the slave owners and not given as reparations to those who suffered the cruelty of slavery. The author also speaks of the semi-slavery of the people who were colonized and remained in their own countries but were oppressed by authoritarian concepts (often portrayed by the colonizing power as an attempt to civilize the locals). 10 Big Questions of Philosophy by Robert Kuhn This book is part of a series of philosophical studies on major topics. The format of the book (audio) is a series of interviews with experts on a topic. The experts are questioned and gently challenged. They are chosen for their pro and con positions. Kuhn is respectful in his interviews and their evaluations. He seeks the truth, and admits he has a prejudice in studying it, but tries to put that aside lest his hopes color the issue too much. Bloodless by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child I have read almost all of Preston and Child’s books. Most of them deal with a FBI investigator named Pendergast. In this volume, he is dealing with a science fiction mystery – the appearance of a horrific creature from a different dimension. Pendergast must investigate what is going on and try to stop the disastrous consequences of a terrible mistake. New Scientist: The Origin of (Almost) Everything by Collected Authors This is a book that reminds me of the DK series, but in this case, it speaks about any number of topics and their origin. It uses scientific research but is not overly dense. It bounces from here to there, so there is a sense that there is no logical order, but nevertheless it gives a good amount of information. Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker This is a fun collection of stories of objects that have been cursed, why they were cursed, who suffered from the curse, and where those objects are now to be found. How Vast is the Cosmos by Robert Kuhn Robert Kuhn has done a series of presentations that are based upon interviews with experts on various topics. He speaks to people of both points of view, and he tries to weigh the importance of what they say. He is a seeker into the truth. In this case, he dealt with questions concerning the cosmos (its beginning, its end, the multiverse, etc.). I would strongly recommend any of his presentations. Longships of Restless Seas by History Nerds History Nerds present a good variety of historic studies on various topics. This book is volume two of a study of the Vikings and their impact upon European culture (especially in Ireland, Scotland and Greenland). It is a short presentation, but it gives a good amount of information. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

January 14, 2025 Peace and Good, It has been a good couple of weeks at home. I have been helping out at the Shrine and the Nursing Home. I got caught up with daily reflections which gave me time to begin a couple of other small projects. For example, I was able to start a series of articles on the Pentateuch for one of our magazines in Nairobi, Kenya. I have also been using some of my time to read about various aspects of spiritual direction. I now have about 25 people who come to me for direction (which is probably the maximum that I should handle for some time). In my reading, I have been studying the writings of St. Theresa of Avila and St. Ignatius of Loyola. I am especially interested in the stages of discernment. I have gotten some new ideas that could be very helpful for those with whom I am working and for myself. The weather has been cold and there was a considerable snowfall in these days. I kidded the people at Mass that in Buffalo we consider 6 inches to be a heavy frost, and 12 inches to be a dusting. There have been a good number of cancellations and rescheduling in these weeks. This is really no problem for me since my schedule is quite flexible. I finished some reading and listening: World War I: the Great War and the World it Made by John Ramsden This is a Modern Scholar study of the causes, action, effect and aftermath of World War I. It is nothing that I have not already heard, but Ramsden’s telling of the story is well done and it gives a good overview of the topic. St. Paul: Understanding his Life, Faith and Epistles by Ron Witherup This is a Learn25 course on the life and ministry and teachings of St. Paul. The professor gives a good idea about the culture in which he lived and why he addressed certain topics in his letters. He deals with some of the stickier topics such as the accusation of misogynism and antisemitism. I found his study fair and worthwhile. Celts and Germans: the Enduring Heritage of the European Northlands by Timothy Shutt This is a Modern Scholar study of the culture of the Celtic and Germanic people in Northern Europe. It deals especially with many of the legends and sagas from that area. Shutt is a great presenter – I have already listened to a number of his courses and would gladly listen to more. Canon Law: From Annulments to Sacraments, an Insider’s Look at Church Law by Arthur Espelage This is a Learn25 course on the Canon Law of the Church. It is not the most interesting of topics, but I felt that it would not hurt to have a little refresher. The presenter gives a theoretical basis for applying canon law in various situations. His presentation was not the most exciting that I have heard, but it was informative. Silk Road by Valerie Hansen This is a study of the life and culture and commerce of those who lived along what has been called the Silk Road. This was the path from China to the Mediterranean. It wasn’t actually a journey from one side to the other, but rather a series of shorter commercial journeys that eventually brought the material (such as silk and spices) to the Arab world and Europe. This book really doesn’t deal with the Silk Road as a global entity, but rather deals with the remains of a couple of cities where this commerce took place. Nowhere Left by Kate Bold This is a crime novel about a mass murderer in the Southwest and the work of two FBI agents who have to figure out the mystery. The characters are good and for the most part well developed. It was not a profound treatment, but entertaining. Berlin at War by Roger Moorhouse This is a very good study of the attitudes and lives of people living in Berlin from the beginning of World War II until its end with the Soviet occupation of the city. It deals with food and other shortages, slave labor and genocide against the Jews, the bombings, the treatment of the Soviets toward citizens, etc. Reading the book gave me a good number of insights into what life must have been like in that era. Contemporary Fiction: A Very Sort Introduction by Robert Eglestone This is one of the short introduction series, in this case a study of modern fiction and its techniques and goals. It was a bit too much literary criticism for my taste. I finished the book, but without a lot of enthusiasm. Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus by OpenLearn This is a very short course on the play “Doctor Faustus” in the OpenLearn series. It is remarkably informative for a very short presentation. It spoke of the plot of the story and how it would have been perceived in Elizabethan England. It deals with question of the use of the black arts, hubris, God’s pardon, etc. I very much enjoyed it. Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heaven by Andrea Wulf A couple of times in a century, the planet Venus crosses between the sun and the earth to create a shadow on the sun. This is an account of the two crossings in the 17th century and of the attempt of astronomers to measure the time it took to pass through the sun (and thus determine approximately the distance of the sun to the earth). The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction by William Bynum This is part of a series on various topics called the Very Short Introduction series. It is like a very long Wikipedia article on the topic. I found it informative, even if it bounced from here to there. John Paul II by Christopher Bellitto This is a Learn25 course on the life and ministry and teachings of Pope St. John Paul II. I have listened to some of Bellitto’s other courses, and I have always found him informative and balanced. He fits that bill in this treatment. He is very respectful but is able to point out some of the shortcomings in John Paul’s ecclesiology. It is well worth listening to this presentation. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

December 30, 2024 Peace and Good, I have been helping out at the Shrine and St. Joseph Nursing Home in these days. There is really not all much going on in the area at this time of year. We had tons of people come to our three Masses for Christmas. I was asked to write a short article on the Canticle of the Three Young Men in the furnace from the Book of Daniel. This was the inspiration for St. Francis' Cantile of the Creatures. I did not intend to do it so quickly, but on Christmas morning (a day after I was asked), it all came together very quickly. It was a great spiritual meditation for me. The image I really liked was the idea that the dominion over the earth that God gave us was not intended to allow us to exploit creation, but rather to invite us to be the choirmaster for a praise of God by all of creation. I have to work on a bunch of daily reflectons in these next couple of days. I am a little behind. When I finish them, I have to start on a series of articles for a magazine in Kenya. I finished some reading and listening: Where God was Born by Bruce Feiler This is the second book by Feiler that I have read. The first one was about his reflections upon Abraham as the founder of three religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). This book is more of a travelogue into Israel, the West Bank and Iraq. I was not overly impressed with it. The Epistle of Barnabas This is the first time that I have read this early apostolic writing. It was probably contemporary with some of the writings of the New Testament. There is not a lot of content in the letter. It is mostly exhortation and it follows the exegetical techniques that would later be used by the Fathers of the Church from Alexandria (taking passages and ideas from the Old Testament and showing how Jesus has given these texts a new meaning). Plato in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern Even though this is a very short presentation of the life and teaching of this great philosopher, Strathern (who is a tremendous history author) manages to give a good treatment to topics such as the forms and Plato’s ideas concerning government (and how his ideas could easily be used by totalitarian regimes). Astrobiology by Andrew May This book deals with the topic of whether there is life on other planets in the universe. It deals with the question of why we have no clear signs of that life if it exists. It raises the question of what type of life we could expect: intelligent or primitive. It also deals with the possibility that life exists but in a form that is totally different from our own (e.g. not using DNA, or possibly having 8 amino acids in their DNA and not 4 as we have). The topic is well developed without becoming sensational. Stories by Garrison Keillor This is a series of 14 stories by Garrison Keillor about life in Minnesota and life in general. He has a great style and is quite entertaining as he rolls out his characters and their quirky, down to earth circumstances. The Medieval World by Thomas Madden This is a Modern Scholar presentation which actually has two volumes to cover the history of the medieval world as well as its culture, religion, etc. Madden has produced a good number of courses on the Modern Scholar series, and he is completely trustworthy. The lectures are informative and presented in a very understandable manner. How to Read and Understand the Gospel of Luke by William Burton This is a Learn25 presentation of the Gospel of Luke and a bit of the message of Luke’s second volume, the Acts of the Apostles. Like almost all of the Learn25 presentations, this is thoughtful and presented at a level which is reasonable for most adults (not overly technical, not overly simplified). It gives a good treatment to the major topics found in the Gospel and what they meant to the audience to which the Gospel was presented. The Appalachian Trail by Charles River Editors Like all of the Charles River Editors productions, this is a short presentation of the topic: the Appalachian Trail. It begins with a history of the trail and its importance to those who use it. Much of the book is actually an account of the various portions of the trail in each state where it is found. This section is great for someone investigated a journey along the trail, but terribly boring for those who are interested in a more generic approach to the meaning of this enterprise. A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman Tuchman is a great popular historian. This is a book which speaks of Europe during the 14th century. That century saw the time of more than one pope, the black death, the Turkish invasion of the Balkans, the hundred years war, endless wars in Italy, etc. Tuchman brings the story and the complicated details to life. I would recommend any of her books (e.g. The Zimmerman Telegram, the First Salute, the March of Folly, etc.). What Christians Believe by C.S. Lewis This is a series of apologetic presentations produced by C.S. Lewis concerning the existence of God and the importance of the Christian Church as the fulfillment of God’s will for us. It is done in his usual thoughtful but also understandable fashion. Christian Writing Decoded: the Didache by Wyatt North The Didache was one of the first writings after the production of the New Testament. It is a book of exhortation mixed with liturgical instructions. As such, it is the earliest testimony to liturgical practices in the early Church. Does God Exist? by Robert Kuhn Kuhn has produced a series of very thoughtful explorations into questions of philosophy and theology. His format is to speak with experts on both sides of whatever question he is addressing. The series is very well done. One can hear the arguments from both sides presented in a respectful manner. Have a Happy New Year, fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Ocean City - Ellicott City

December 24, 2024 Peace and Good, As you can see above, I spent some time at the friars' place in Ocean City. It was there for a week. It was very cold, but I love the peace and quiet there at this time of the year. Life here is Ellicott City has fallen into a good pattern. I help out at the Shrine with confessions and Masses (which includes celebrating Mass at St. Joseph Nursing Home about a half hour away from here). I have also led a few days of recollection for various groups. My next class is January 25 which is a replay of my workshop on the Book of Revelation. In the meantime, I want to get started on a series of magazine articles on the Penteteuch that I am writing for the friars' magazine in Kenya. I have been writing for them for a couple of years now. I am very happy that the winter solstice has arrived. I really suffer from the shorter days, and I can't wait to get out into the sun more as the days get longer. I finished some reading and listening: The American Civil War by Gary Gallaher This is a long course from the Teaching Company on the Civil War. The professor is fair in his evaluations and very informative, not only on battles but also on the politics and cultural dimensions of the battle. His side topics include slavery, the role of civilians (including African-Americans), trade, etc. The course is 48 lectures so listening to it is a bit of a commitment, but it is well worthwhile. Talleyrand by Charles River Editors This is a short outline of the life and career of this remarkable figure. He started out as a bishop, but then switched roles, serving first the French Revolution, then Napoleon, and then the kings who followed Napoleon. It seems as if his guiding principles were fame and money. Yet, he served his nation well in a very difficult era (even though he always made sure he got his cut of whatever profits were available). The Wine Dark Sea by Thomas Cahill This is the author of the famous book, “How the Irish Saved Civilization.” This volume is a study on the history, literature, and culture of ancient Greece from its earliest days up to the time that it encountered Rome and the Christian faith. Cahill’s books are often a bit irreverent, but not in a dirty way but mostly in a down to earth manner. He also has some interesting ideas about the influences upon Greek cities, poets and artists, etc. The Lost Gutenberg: the Astounding Story of One Book’s Five Hundred Odyssey by Margaret Leslie David This is the story of one of the Bibles printed by Gutenberg and how it was handed down from one owner to another, travelling from Germany to Great Britain to the US to Japan. It also deals with the process of printing in the days of Gutenberg, and also with scientific studies done on the book to try to discover its secrets (e.g. the chemistry of the ink used, the type of paper, the process of organizing printing, etc.). It is a good book, dealing well with a whole series of topics. Belle Boyd by Charles River Editors This is a short account of one of the most important Confederate spies during the Civil War. Boyd was a wild young woman who lived in the northern part of Virginia, an area which passed back and forth between the two sides. She did things which deserve the worst of punishments, but somehow she got away with most of what she did, only being exiled as a punishment. Mata Hari by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation of the life of Mata Hari, the famous exotic dancer who was executed by the French during World War I as a spy for the Germans. The author argues strongly that she was innocent and that her execution was a type of cover up to catch people’s attention during the disastrous battle of Verdun. A Small Town in Germany by John Le Carre This is a dramatic presentation about a German employee of the British embassy in West Germany who disappears. A tough investigator is sent to find out what happened and whether there was something very dangerous about it (e.g. defection to the East with secret documents). There are a series of twists and turns as is common in the writings of Le Carre. It was a very entertaining presentation. 100 Things the Simpsons Fans Should Know and Do Before they Die by Julia Prescott and Allie Goetz I have been a fan of the Simpsons since its beginning, although having been in Europe for so long I have not seen the past 13 years of it. This is a series of 100 short vignettes about the show, its writers, its characters, its message, etc. The 10 Biggest Civil War Blunders by Edward Bonekemper This is a good presentation of mistakes made by both the North and the South during the Civil War. It includes such mistakes as not following up on victories (over and over again a fault of the north), a plan to embargo cotton made by the South to force Great Britain enter the war, etc. Bonekemper is fair in his presentation and has very few visible axes to grind. Dickens and Twain: Capturing 19th Century Britain and America by Timothy Shutt. This is a Modern Scholar presentation. It speaks of the similarities and differences between Dickens and Twain who were more or less contemporaries. While Dickens was intimately involved in describing the horrors of modern England and the effects of the industrial revolution, Dickens comments on travel and society in a humorous manner. White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child This is a story of Agent Pendergast and Corrie, a young troubled woman who has gotten her life together and is attempting to build a career in law enforcement. She travels to a mountain resort in the West which has dangerous and evil secrets about the past and the way that these things were still incarnated in the present. 1941 by Andrew Nagorski Nagorski is the son of a Polish officer who fought in World War II. Thus, he has a special interest in presenting the story as best he can. He speaks of 1941 as the year that Hitler lost the war (even if its end did not come til 1945). Hitler overstepped himself in his invasion of Russia and then his declaration of war against the United States after Pearl Harbor. The book is very well written. Merry Christmas! fr. Jude

Ellicott City

December 7, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope you are all well. I have been at home these days, mostly working at the Shrine. We have an hour of confessions every day between Monday and Saturday. There are usually two or three confessors on call each day, and there are almost always line waiting for confession. It is a very good ministry. I was in contact with the provincial of our province in Kenya and I was asked to begin another series of articles for their magazine on the Penteteuch. I have outlined the topics, and it works out to about 25 articles. I will be getting to that this week when the inspiration hits me. I usually brook over a topic for a couple of weeks, and then one morning the first line of the piece comes into my head and from there it is off to the races. The weather here has been very cold, but nothing like Buffalo as been getting in these days. I tell my friends that the one consolation for Buffalonians in these days is that Watertown (at the other end of Lake Ontario) is getting more snow. I will be here in EC all this week, but next week I am going to go to the shore to the appartment the friars have there. I finished some reading and listening: How the Bible Saved Civilization by Ian Boxall These presentations from Learn25 do not really match the title. What the author does is explain various scenes, people, and topics and show how they are still important in our world and in the world of art, drama, music, etc. Boxall is a good, creative presenter. Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer This is a relatively short presentation by an Evangelical author who speaks of the need for art and beauty in our lives and our faith. He is attacking a tendency to see something wrong in painting, statues, music, poetry, etc. He takes many of his argumentation from the Bible itself (e.g. how God created the beautiful, how God ordered Moses and David to make beautiful decorations for the cult, etc. New Amsterdam by Charles River Editors This is the history of the arrival of the Dutch in the New York area and the years of their early colonization up to the time of the British who took the colony over after Holland’s defeat in the mid-17th century. The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri This is the account of the murder of a very mysterious figure who staged improvisational plays in the town where Inspector Montalbano lives. The plot is intricate and possibly a bit confusing. I did not like this volume as much as Camilleri’s others for the hero dumps his long distance lover for a young and strange young woman, chalking it up to a mature man’s last adventure. This aspect was almost adolescent in its approach. Thunder Point by Jack Higgins This is an action novel about the recovery of secret documents brought by Martin Borman to the Caribbean when he supposedly escaped at the end of World War II. (There have long been theories that he escaped and lived in Latin America). The documents would incriminate key British politicians and royalty, and the team (Ferguson and Sean Dillon, an ex-IRA gunman) seek to find them before a group of Nazi collaborators can discover where they are and recover them. The Middle East by Philip Robins This is a presentation of the history, politics, and cultures of the countries of the Middle East. It naturally leans towards the Islamic countries, but it does not ignore Israel. The author is quite good, and he is honest in his approach (not looking for a villain in his account. Women who made Science History by Leila McNeill This is a short course from the Great Courses on significant women in science from the Renaissance to the modern era, leaning very heavily toward the modern. McNeill speaks of the lives and contributions of a number of famous and not so famous women scientists, and especially of their difficulty to have their contributions to science recognized because of the anti-woman bias in many fields of research and many institutions. Innocent Man by John Grisham This is a true life story of two men who were falsely convicted of rape and murder in a small town in Oklahoma. The prosecutors broke a whole series of laws in their case. The particular difficulty in proving one of the men innocent was his mental illness and tendency toward alcoholism. The innocent project eventually was able to prove their innocence after many years of often cruel incarceration. Hans Urs Von Balthasar by Kevin Mongrain Von Balthasar was a key thinker in the process of leading up to Vatican II, but his specialty was in patristics and mysticism, especially in rediscovering that which is truly beautiful (in nature, in revelation, in the incarnation, etc.) His writings are notoriously difficult to understand, so I took this first step of listening to this Learn25 course to get an initial idea of who he was and what he taught. At the end of this course, I can say I have caught a glimpse of what he believed and shared. The Gospel of Mark 101: How to Read and Understand the Gospel of Action by Ian Boxall This is a course on the Gospel of Mark from the Learn25 series. I found the course very informative, reinforcing that which I knew and making me see a few things in a way from which I had never considered the material. I plan to listen to whatever other courses this professor has produced. Chaucer by Peter Ackroyd Peter Ackroyd is a tremendous author about all things Brittanica. This book speaks of the life and writings of Chaucer, placing him within his historic and literary environment. The author constantly quotes Chaucer’s writings, first in the English used at Chaucer’s time (the late 14th century) and then in modern English. There are many things that are not known about Chaucer, but Ackroyd masterfully pieces together those things which we can know. The Mughal Empire by Charles River Editors This isa short account of the Mughal empire in India. A lot of the book is a presentation on the history of Islam, and then when the author gets into the part about India, it is a mix of wars between this or that power or palace intrigues. I cannot say that I know that much more about this empire after finishing this read. The Norsemen-Understanding the Vikings and Their Culture by Michael Drout This is a course from Modern Scholar about the Vikings and especially their culture and their literature. While there is not an enormous corpus of writings, nevertheless the professor is able to explain the intricacies of what they wrote, both from a literary and mythic point of view. Ironically, the most important collection of writings were produced by a Christian author so that his contemporary authors would understand some of the mythic references in their own language. Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King by Zahi Hawass This is a firsthand account of the examination of the Tutankhamun mummy in order to understand more about his lie and his death. It is only a short book, but it was enjoyable and informative. The Bad Popes by E.R. Chamberlin This is a treatment of popes who were disastrous in their personal conduct and their leadership of the Church from the early Middle Ages to the Renaissance (and the time of the Protestant Reformation). While the accounts of some of the popes were incredibly scandalous, the author tries not to be a rumor monger but rather to present the popes with their flaws and sometimes their virtues. It is a good read. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Chicago

November 18, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope you all are well. This past week at Ellicott City has been quite busy. I finished off my four week course on the Gospel of Luke which went very well. I have taken on quite a few spiritual directees. Interestingly, some of them have discussed questions with me that have forced me to do some reading on various topics which is very good. They are making me look at topics which I never investigated before. I really like that. Yesterday I travelled out to Chicago to give a workshop to the Postulants on the Letters of St. Paul. I have done this for quite a few years now. It is good to get to know them, and also to share insights with them on Scripture and on the Order (since I have visited almost all of it over the years) We have five postulants this year, which is a good number but not like previous pre-covid years. I got to see fr. Bernard, a friar from Australia who is now serving as vocation promoter in the province. He is a fine man, and is excited over his work. Friars Paul and Ian continue to work as the formation team here. Our friary is located in the north of the city, a few blocks from Loyola University. I really like Chicago. It is a city that is easy to find one's way around, and it has so many diverse nationalities. Walking several block can lead one from Vietnam to Ethiopia to Russia. I have finished some reading and listening: 1917: Lenin, Wilson, and the Birth of the New World Disorder by Arthur Jerman These is a comparison of Lenin with Wilson, especially in the traumatic year of 1917, the year of the Russian Revolution and the entrance of the US into the First World War. They are seen as idealistic men who were also stubborn and self-righteous. They both wanted their nations to live up to great values, but were not willing to compromise on their ideals and thus doomed their countries and the world to a difficult future. The Great Sea by David Abulafia This is an extensive history of the Mediterranean Sea and the cultures that have existed along its shore. It deals with political history as well as cultural history, especially speaking of the trade that made the Mediterranean so important (both of the rise of the commerce and of its decline after the voyages of Columbus). Dante by RWB Lewis This is a presentation on the life, career, and writings of the famous Italian poet who produced the Divine Comedy, one of the greatest masterpieces of literature of all eras. Lewis knows how to weave outside material into the story to make certain nuances and topics in the Comedy more understandable. He presents a Dante who is flesh and blood and not a literary conceit. American Constitution 101 by David Hudson This is a very well planned and presented course on the American Constitution. The author manages to present rather complicated legal matters in a way that is fully comprehensible. He gives copious examples from case law and speaks of the various figures who had a tremendous influence on the interpretation and application of the articles of the constitution (e.g. Chief Justice Marshall, Chief Justice Warren, etc.). Rhodes after Antiquity by Charles River Editors Rhodes is famous for the fact that it housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the colossus of Rhodes. This short history speaks of that monument, but especially of the island’s history under its Greek, Roman and Arab overlords up to the present day. The Berlin Wall: A World Divided by Hope Harrison This is course on the history of the Berlin Wall. The professor (for this is a Great Courses presentation) speaks of the reasons why it was built and the initial reaction to its construction (it having been built to halt the hemorrhage of citizens fleeing to the west from East Germany), of its effect on the people of East and West Berlin, and of its fall in 1989. The professor has a special love for Berlin which comes across in her presentations. Hacking the Code of Life by Nessa Carey This is a study of the science and practice of genetic engineering. It deals with how it is done and also with the more difficult question of whether it should be done and if so, when. It speaks of engineering done on human subjects (to correct a genetic flaw or, more dangerously, to produce a child that would meet the subjective desires of the parents) as well as on animals (producing larger animals, placing a genetic flaw in mosquitoes to kill off dangerous populations), etc. Hildebrand and His Times by W.R. Stephens This is a Librivox presentation of the life of Hildebrand who became Pope Gregory VII, a great reformer in the late Medieval period, and who fought with a series of Holy Roman Emperors for control of the mechanisms of the Church. Being an older, British presentation, its form is a bit antiquated, but the information provided is very good. St. Francis of Assisi by William Cook and Ronald Herzman I listened to this Great Courses presentation on the Feast of the founder of the Franciscans, October 4th. I have heard many presentations by William Cook who always gives a balanced and thorough treatment of the topic. This is the first time that I heard Herzman who is a colleague of Cook, and he is also very good. They are both very respectful of Francis and show a reverence for him which does not devolve into pious adulation. The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla by A.H. Beesly This is a Librivox presentation (which means that it is a book out of print which is read by volunteer readers and is offered for free at Librivox.com). It deals with the later stages of the Roman republic and especially with the social tensions that led to its fall and the inauguration of the Principate under Augustus. This book begins with the reforming Gracchi brothers who were murdered by the aristocracy, and closes with the dictatorship and murderous career of Sulla (in the generation before Julius Caesar and Pompei). Cold Light by Anita Sitarski This is a short treatise on bioluminescence, both the phenomenon and its possible importance for practical purposes in our modern world. The presenter is excited about her topic which is obvious, but she does present a good amount of interesting information. Henry Ford and the Building of Modern Capitalism by Jef Webb This particular course in the Learn25 series was a real challenge for the presenter because Webb had to balance the genius of organization and business enterprises with the fact that Ford was an anti-Semite (of great proportions). Webb does a good job of being honest and forthright with both dimensions of his subject. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude